Animated Superhero Series The 99 Launches in the Middle East for Ramadan

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This Ramadan, Islam-based superhero series
THE 99 is
finally launching in its region of origin, the Middle
East.

Starting on the first day of Ramadan, the series will
air on MBC3
beginning on the first day of Ramadan, and then on Friday to
Wednesday of each week. After Ramadan, the first season of The 99
will then show weekly on MBC3 for the rest of the broadcasting
year.

The first season of the show will also air on
Yahoo!
Maktoob beginning on July 22nd, through August 16th. On August
17th, Yahoo! Maktoob will release "THE 99 Unbound," the
feature-length film that debuted at the New York Film Festival,
which features an introduction to the series that showcases the
first 4 episodes.

Ahmed Nassef, Vice President and Managing Director,
Yahoo! Maktoob, said, “Fans have been waiting for THE 99 to come to
life in an animated series, and we are thrilled to be the exclusive
online partner for its debut in the region.”

The series showcases 99 superheroes that reference
Islamic culture and society, that express universal values in their
struggle to share light and battle the forces of evil. While
creating the story has been controversial in different markets, its
message has been well-received globally, issues that creator Dr.
Naif Al Mutawa
spoke about the series at our animation-focused event, "CoE
Animate," this fall.

After a long
struggle to be aired in the US, The 99 is now seeking a new
broadcaster in the American market, says Al-Mutawa. Yet Turkey had
gone full steam ahead, having already shown the first season of
The99. The show will also air on public stations in South Africa
and Australia this fall, and season two will debut in Turkey most
likely in early 2013, and in the Middle East next
Ramadan.

Yet launching in the region brings the series back to
its birthplace. Al Mutawa told Wamda, "It's a proud moment for me
to have TH 99 come back home. This is the 10th year of the journey
that began in a cab in London. It's been a very humbling
experience, and I've had a lot of mentorship from people who've
helped me to get to where I am. I hope kids watch and enjoy it, and
share these universal values with humanity."